When comparing Sennheiser PXC 550 vs Oppo PM-3, the Slant community recommends Sennheiser PXC 550 for most people. In the question“What are the best headphones?”Sennheiser PXC 550 is ranked 3rd while Oppo PM-3 is ranked 101st. The most important reason people chose Sennheiser PXC 550 is:

Sennheiser offers the CapTune smartphone app which allows users to see the battery level of the headphones, adjust the headphones' EQ, and control other functions.

Pros

Pro

Companion smartphone app offers extra functionality

Sennheiser offers the CapTune smartphone app which allows users to see the battery level of the headphones, adjust the headphones' EQ, and control other functions.

Pro

Carrying case gives headphones extra travel protection

The case is made from a tough fabric material which should protect the headphones from minor bumps and scratches.

Pro

Can fold down for easier travel

You can twist the ear cups and then fold them into the headband for a smaller, more travel friendly size. In this state, it should take up a lot less space inside your bag for less hassle when used on the go.

Pro

Comfortable to wear for long periods

Soft foam and leather are used in the interior and exterior of the ear pads respectively which makes them feel really soft and smooth on the head. The same material choices can be found in the headband.

Pro

Powerful bass with good detail on the mids and highs

The sound tuning of these headphones is focused on the lower frequencies. The bass is quite powerful with good sub-bass extension. Users who listen to a lot of hip-hop, dance and bass-heavy music will certainly enjoy the oomph that these headphones can give. The mids sound natural and smooth, yet the lower regions of these frequencies can be overwhelmed by the powerful bass. The highs are crisp and clear though, which prevents the sound from getting too muddy.

Pro

Headphones automatically pause/play when put on/removed

The Smart Pause feature detects if you are removing or putting on your headphones. These gestures will trigger the music to pause or play automatically.

Pro

Right ear cup functions as remote

When in wireless mode, you do not need to use buttons in order to control the functions of the headphones. The right ear cup lets you control the headphones through touch gestures. You can swipe left or right for next or previous track, swipe up or down to increase or decrease the volume or tap on the ear cup to pause or play track as well as answer or end calls.

Pro

Noise cancelling levels can be adjusted

You can set just how much noise is cancelled by the headphones, from maximum active noise cancelling, to an ambient mode which allows some sound into the headphones. You can also turn the feature off entirely.

Pro

Effective noise cancelling

The feature works really well in preventing outside noise from intruding into your music listening experience. Also, there are very little to no reports of a feeling of pressure in the ears when the feature is active.

Pro

Great passive noise isolation

These headphones are quite effective at preventing sound leakage, and also passively block out noise really well. This is achieved by the closed ear cup design along with the effective seal from the leather-surfaced ear pads.

Pro

Neutral and detailed sound

Treble is quite detailed, but lacks a bit of sparkle on the highest frequencies as they are rolled off. The mids are just right, not too forward and not too rich. The bass has good presence and punch, but is not very powerful.

Pro

Very good passive noise isolation

Its closed back design along with the fairly thick, leather-surfaced earpads are very effective at keeping the music in and the ambient noise out. This is very useful in tracking situations, and will also help you focus on the audio even when in a busy, noisy place.

Pro

Fairly comfortable on the head

The headband and ear cups have fairly thick padding to ease the pressure on the head. These are covered with leather material so they feel smooth.

Pro

Sounds great even without an amp

A headphone amp is not required in order for these to pump up good volume and sound details, so these can work well off of portable devices. There is a noticeable improvement in sound quality and volume when used with a proper amp though.

Pro

Build is solid and feels durable

A combination of high quality plastics and metal are used for these so there is minimal flex and rattles. The headphone joints and yoke also have smooth movement, which make these feel premium when held.

Pro

Cables are easily replaceable

The cables can easily be detached, with 3.5mm jacks as ear cup connectors. This makes looking for new/replacement cables very easy.

Pro

Can be used for taking calls

Stock cable has an in-line microphone. Not only is this convenient for taking calls while listening to music, but the mic's sound quality is good, with voices sounding clear, full and with good volume.

Cons

Con

Gesture tracking can be too sensitive

Simply brushing your finger onto the right ear cup can trigger a command for the headphones. This can be annoying for some people.

Con

Headphones may feel warm and sweaty quickly

While the leather surfaces feel soft and smooth on the skin, they also trap heat very well. You may feel the warmth building up quickly around the ears and on the head. This can also be an issue if you sweat a lot.

Con

Ear pad openings are quite small

If you have large ears then the small ear cup opening may be a problem. They may feel tight around the ears, or even sit on your ears instead of go over them, which you may find to be less than ideal.

Con

Weight is on the heavy side

The use of metal and quality plastics on the headphone construction, as well as the magnets in the drivers contribute to a hefty weight. While this is not a problem to wear for short periods, you may feel some head or neck strain when using the headphones for hours. This also makes the headphones an extra challenge to bring on the go.

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